Forever Chasing

Chapter 18: The libary

Harper trudged through the halls of the school, her mind still swirling from the party a few days ago. It was the first day back after winter break, and everything felt slightly off-kilter. She hadn't really spoken to Connor since... well, since that night. Things were fine, but it was hard to ignore the butterflies that took flight in her stomach every time she thought about him, especially about what had happened between them. Now, they were back at school, and Harper was trying to focus on anything but him, though her mind kept drifting back.

The first few classes of the day went by in a blur. She sat with Ella in history, zoning in and out of the lesson, sneaking glances at her phone. It buzzed just as she was packing up her books, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Connor's name pop up.

Meet me in the library after this?
We need to finish the project.

Harper bit her lip, a small knot of nerves forming in her stomach. Of course, they had the project to finish—the deadline was coming up fast—but the thought of being alone with Connor after everything made her palms sweat.

Sure, I'll be there, she typed back, hoping her nerves didn't show in the message.

After her final morning class, she made her way to the library, her heart thudding louder with each step. She found him tucked away in the farthest corner, near the back where the lights were dim and the shelves created a private, quiet space. It was secluded, with no one around to see them.

Connor was already seated, his eyes on his laptop as he worked on the final touches of their project. When he looked up, he gave her that signature smirk that made her stomach flip.

"You're late, Sweetheart," he teased, motioning for her to sit beside him.

"Traffic," she quipped, rolling her eyes as she settled into the chair next to him.

For the first half hour, they actually worked on the project. The air between them was filled with the tapping of keys, the occasional exchange of ideas, and the soft rustling of papers. Harper was thankful for the distraction, but her mind kept wandering back to the way Connor had kissed her, the way they'd fit together perfectly at the party. She stole a glance at him, trying to focus on his words, but her heart was racing too fast to fully concentrate.

After what felt like hours, they finally reached the end of the project. Harper clicked the final "send" button, and the file whirred away into the submission portal.

"We did it!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up in triumph.

Connor laughed, pulling her into a hug in celebration. "Finally done," he said, his arms wrapped around her. "I'm so glad that's over."

The hug was innocent at first—just a friendly, congratulatory squeeze. But then something shifted. Neither of them pulled away. Harper felt the heat of his body, the way his arms tightened slightly around her, and suddenly, the atmosphere between them changed. Her breath caught as he moved a little closer, his face brushing against her hair.

Before she could fully register it, she felt the soft press of his lips on the side of her neck.

"Connor," she whispered, her voice shaky. "Stop..."

He didn't. His lips were warm, leaving a trail of soft kisses along her neck. Harper's eyes fluttered shut despite herself, her body leaning into him even though her brain told her not to. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, and the tension between them crackled like electricity. She wanted to resist, to tell him to stop again, but her body was betraying her, drawn to him like a magnet.